Documents: Pope Weighed Resigning in 2000

[emad]

Pope's Testament Shows He Considered Possibility of Resigning in 2000, Asks All Personal Notes to be Burned

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY Apr 7, 2005 — The late Pope John Paul II suggested in his last testament that he considered the possibility of resigning in 2000 at a time when he was already ailing and when the Roman Catholic Church was embarking on a new millennium.

The document, which the Vatican released Thursday, also said he left no material property and asked that all his personal notes be burned. It mentioned only two living people: his personal secretary and the chief rabbi of Rome who welcomed him to Rome's synagogue in 1986.

The Polish-born pope, who died Saturday at the age of 84, also had considered the possibility of a funeral in Poland, but later left it up to the College of Cardinals to decide. The pope will be buried under St. Peter's Basilica on Friday after a funeral in the square.

John Paul wrote the testament over the course of his 26-year pontificate, starting in 1979, the year after he was elected. It was written in his native Polish and translated by the Vatican into Italian.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=649067

[underpants]

1. You just beat me to it

no material property huh? Gee that doesn't seem to fit many of the "Christian" religous leadership 'roundt here

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Eh, yeah, but he also had a writ to live like a king for life.

He didn't NEED possessions.

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. I was thinking the same thing...

If I had such circumstances I wouldn't bother myself with actually owning anything either.

[emad]

3. Strange story. Most news stories this week in the UK have stated

categorically that JP2 left no last wiill and testament.

And that this followed a meeting between him, senior Curia members, Italian Cardinals and members of US/UK security/intelligence services in 1996, at the Vatican.

[mmonk]

5. No will with no possessions,

just a testament and preferences and directives.

[emad]

6. When he died, BBC TV News said "the Pope had been read his

rights" instead of, presumably, "been given the last rites",,,,,,,,,,

Not possessions, no rights...?

[emad]

7. No internement in Poland....

The Pope considered being buried in his native Poland, but finally decided to leave the decision up to the College of Cardinals, the Vatican said as it made the document public.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4420879.stm